Fleet operators warned of 50% rise in London PCNs
The PCN Survey 2012, commissioned by the Freight Transport Association, revealed that the 27 companies surveyed had paid £2.9min fines and a rise in costs that was directly related to the increase in the number of PCNs issued on the capital’s roads.
The report found that a third of the enforcement authorities accounted for nearly all PCNs issued (80%), with the London Borough of Westminster, London Borough of Camden, City of London and Transport for London more likely to issue to PCNs to FTA members than other London boroughs.
The survey also clearly identified locations where drivers were more likely to receive PCNs, providing valuable information for operators and drivers in respect of areas in which to be vigilant for parking restrictions.
Natalie Chapman, FTA’s head of policy for London, said: ‘Commercial vehicle operators have grown smarter when dealing with the problems of making deliveries in the unfriendly roadside environment of central London, but the findings of the survey suggest that there is a need for them to improve their understanding of how certain parking restrictions apply. As well as training drivers and identifying PCN hotspots, a well-targeted and intelligent approach to appealing unfair PCNs could save some companies hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.
‘It is equally important for local authorities to ensure that there is sufficient kerbside space and facilities for deliveries, and for Civil Enforcement Officers to understand why trucks and vans may be in a restricted parking area in the first place, and to apply some common sense when issuing tickets.’
The FTA has a range of compliance and support materials to help members manage their PCNs including a Compliance Guide, Driver Card and a Delivery Assessment Guide, which was written with the co-operation of a Westminster Council official and provides valuable help and advice for commercial vehicle operators.
The full PCN Survey 2012 is available by clicking at www.fta.co.uk